From the President
Gratitude and awe.
As I look back on a school year that ranks among the most challenging in my 45 years in education, those two words continue to rise to the surface: gratitude and awe. Not because of the di culties—but because of the extraordinary way this community meets adversity with grace, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to our mission and one another.
Behind the scenes, we’ve entered the silent phase of the third leg of our capital campaign—a bold and necessary e ort to ensure that St. Xavier remains a place of transformation and excellence for the next 65 graduating classes and beyond. As we assessed our facilities, we discovered that much of the infrastructure—not just the design—is well past its intended lifespan. Our mission is timeless, but pipes corrode, electrical conduits decay, and space for learning and community life looks very di erent than it did in the late 1950s.
It’s been a complex challenge to discern what we need, what we envision, and how we will secure the support to bring it to life.
And yet, I remain in awe of the teams of faculty, sta , alumni, parents, and partners who are stewarding this moment with such wisdom and faith. eir vision is shaping a campus that will serve generations to come. For them, and for all of you who help make this possible—I am lled with deep gratitude. Even as we plan for the future, we are witnessing powerful growth in the very heart of our program: faith formation. oughtfully cultivated over the years, it is now bearing fruit in beautiful and unmistakable ways.
is year marked the fourth year of the Freshman Emmaus Retreat, now a formative part of the four-year St. X experience. Conversations are deeper. Community is stronger. Faith is real.
Interest in our Camino Pilgrimage grew so much that we added a second trip to Spain. In the fall, we launched a campus-wide phone fast. During Lent, students engaged in
a week-long social media re ection—simple but profound e orts to live more present, mindful, and connected lives.
Our Kairos retreats continue to be transformational for our seniors. Time and again, we hear it: “ is was the most lifechanging experience I’ve had at St. X.” In that same spirit, we created our rst “40 Days of Re ection” booklet—written by students, faculty, and sta . It’s already drawing attention from Jesuit schools and leaders across the country who hope to model something similar.
Seventeen students even chose to make a silent retreat this year—accompanied by six dedicated adult spiritual guides. eir courage to be still, to listen, and to grow in quiet speaks volumes about the formation happening here.
Now, we send forth the Class of 2025 with con dence and hope. ese young men are ready. Formed in spirit, sharpened by experience, and grounded in faith, they will carry the lessons of this place into a world that needs light, leadership, and love.
e school year can feel long and frustrating, especially when problems surface and clear opportunities for improvement emerge—and this year certainly had several. Yet the gratitude and awe I feel come from witnessing our community-wide commitment to excellence. In a year like this, that commitment takes the form of being the best at getting better. at mindset—rooted in our way of proceeding—is what sets St. Xavier apart.
We can’t wait to begin again in August.
With deep gratitude and awe,
Tim Reilly ’76 President
Tim Reilly ’76
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76, President
Rev. William L. Verbryke SJ ’71, Rector
Mr. Daniel J. Lynch, Principal
Mr. Robert G. Bollman ’86, Vice President for Operations & CFO
Mr. Anthony E. Schad ’81, Vice President for Advancement
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mr. Gregory G. Achten ’82, Chair
Mr. G. Jeffrey Berding ’85
Mr. Eric M. Breissinger ’85
Mrs. Stephanie Bruemmer
Ms. Melanie M. Chavez
Mr. R. Patrick Connaughton, Jr. ’06
Mr. Michael E. Dahm
Mrs. Amy M. Garrett
Mr. Lee P. Geiger ’93
Mr. Christopher S. Habel ’87
Dr. Colleen M. Hanycz
Rev. Paul A. Lickteig SJ
Dr. Patricia Y. McAlpine
Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek SJ
Mrs. Sarah Palermo
Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76
Rev. Matthew C. Spotts SJ ’04
Mr. Timothy J. Steigerwald ’83
Mr. Karl S. Thomsen
Rev. Damian Torres-Botello SJ
Mr. Nicholas J. Vehr ’77
Mr. Matthew R. Veith ’93
Rev. William L. Verbryke SJ ’71, Vice Chair
Mr. Madhu Vrishabhendra
Mr. Stephen J. Wolf ’78
CONTRIBUTORS
Timothy O. Banker ’95
Jody A. Besse
Joyce A. Bowman
Eric N. Brass
Mary Beth Bruns
David V. Clapp
Kathryn S. Dierckes
Patrick M. Dunn ’25
Heidi B. Eveleigh
Edmund L. Franchi
Nathan E. Gabriel
Julie Goshorn
Elizabeth A. Harris
Cara L. Hester
W. Matthew Keith ’93
Nicholas B. Kemper ’06
J K Klaiber
Michael E. Mullally
Ralph A. Nardini ’77
Joseph J. Pace ’16
Aleth B. Rhoades
Anthony E. Schad ’81
John A. Schrantz ’96
Britan A. Shriner
Stephen R. Specht ’86
Gavin A. Vargas ’19
Isaac M. Watras
EDITOR
Becky Schulte
DESIGNER
Jon Enia ’97, makercreative.com
PRINTING
Joseph Berning Printing Company
St. Xavier Magazine is published three times a year by the alumni, advancement and communications of ces.
St. Xavier High School
600 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499
Phone: (513) 761-7815 ext. 121 http://www.stxavier.org e-mail: bschulte@stxavier.org
ALUMNI HOT LINE
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Direct all Letters to the Editor, address changes, or other correspondence to the above address.
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Cover Photo: The Long Blue Line welcomes the Class of 2025!
Above Photo: The
Blue
We R St. Xavier
News and notes around the St. Xavier campus
St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame
On ursday, February 13, 2025, St. Xavier proudly hosted the 41st Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner on campus. e evening, emceed by Rocky Boiman '98, was a celebration brimming with cherished memories, school pride, and the warm hospitality of the St. Xavier community. Former Cincinnati Reds player Eric Davis served as our keynote, followed by an engaging Q&A session led by Wayne Miller, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. e event was a remarkable tribute to the rich athletic history of St. Xavier and its exceptional individuals. e 2025 inductees included:
Michael Hall ’14 – Cross Country and Track & Field
Andy Kendrick ’90 – Swimming & Diving
Pat Muldoon ’09 – Football
Scott Murrer ’79 – Football and Track & Field
Scott Smith ’00 – Soccer and Wrestling
Class of 2029 profile
Welcome to the Class of 2029!
is fall St. Xavier welcomes the newest members of the Long Blue Line – the Class of 2029! is class is made up of 394 members and will begin their St. Xavier journey on August 14. Some interesting numbers about this class:
• At least 87 grade schools are represented in the class
• 269 (68.7%) students attended Catholic grade schools
• 15 (3.8 %) students enrolled attended private, non-Catholic schools
• 104 (26.5%) students attended public schools
• 4 students (1.0 %) were homeschooled
Taste of Diversity
On April 7, members of the community joined to host the Annual Taste of Diversity. is was a wonderful event for our students and attendees to learn about world cultures through displays, food, and dance. ank you to everyone who attended and made this day a success!
Theatre Xavier Musical
Michael Benson Festival
On May 5, St. Xavier held the 25th Annual Michael Benson Jazz Festival! ose in attendance were treated to many performances featuring e Phil DeGreg Trio, e Men for All Others Jazz Band, e Bomber Big Band, and World-Renowned Jazz Vocalist, Jennifer Barnes. A very special thank you to Bob and Rosalyn Benson for continuing to honor their son’s memory by supporting the Jazz program at St. Xavier High School.
On April 4, eatre Xavier held opening night for their spring production, She Loves Me. is production was a hit show performed in the Walter C. Deye S.J. Performance Center. Bravo to all the members of this truly incredible show!
National Signing Days
Congratulations to our student athletes who committed to continue their academic and athletic careers by signing to play athletics in college on National Signing Days.
Vice President’s Message
National Signing Day: February 5
Chase Herbstreit – University of Michigan – Football
Tommy Jewell – Illinois Institute of Technology – Baseball
Matt Schulte – De ance College – Volleyball
Shane Strayhorn – Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Football
Message from Vice President.
National Signing Day: April 16
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Walker Bailey - Kenyon College – Swimming & Diving
Simeon Betts - Heidelberg University – Baseball
Landen Fernandez - Bellarmine University – Track & Field
Breylin Horton - Ohio Dominican University - Football
Ray Kelley - Marietta College - Football
Jack Nesbit - Canisius University – Track & Field
Bennett Tekavec - Otterbein - Soccer
omas Vaughn - Berea College – Track & Field
Commissioning Mass
On April 30, the St. Xavier Community celebrated Commissioning Mass where juniors and chaperones going on summer service and immersion trips, faculty and sta not returning to St. Xavier and those who will be retiring at the end of the school year and the Class of 2025 were commissioned. is was the last all-school Mass for the Class of 2025. ey were encouraged to go and set the world on re!
Tony Schad ’81
X-Travaganza
Vice President’s Message
is March, St. Xavier celebrated the annual X-Travaganza with a Speakeasy theme! A special thank you to the chairs, Gina and Ryan Kyte. St. Xavier is grateful for all of our donors, attendees, and volunteers who made X-Travaganza possible.
Fine Arts Signing Day
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
On May 1, St. X held its annual Fine Arts Signing Day, which recognizes seniors who have chosen a path of creating beauty and meaning during their college careers. e ceremony honored those majoring or minoring in music, singing, theater or visual arts in college. Twenty-one seniors signed their college letters of acceptance in front of their parents, teachers and fellow students who have supported them in achieving this artistic goal. is event is always a powerful and meaningful way to celebrate the important role the arts have at St. Xavier High School. Congratulations to the following students who will pursue their career in the arts.
Logan Bauer - Ohio University
Tyler Bush - Ohio University
Myles Connick – e Ohio State University
Aiden Crary - University of Cincinnati
Dominic Darwish - University of Cincinnati
Luke Faircloth - Drexel University
Hunter Gee - Wright State
Joseph Gehrum - Ohio University
Stephen George - e Ohio State University
William George - Ohio University
Henry Isaac - Miami University
William Koester - Xavier University
Zachary Lopane - Miami University
Eddie Noll - Culinary Institute of America
Derek Mischnick – University of Cincinnati DAAP
Evan Mischnick - Xavier University
Ray Ravenna – University of Cincinnati CCM
Brayden Roda - Belmont University
Caleb Rothring – University of Cincinnati DAAP
Eric Salem - University of Dayton
Liam amann-Raines – Savannah College of Art and Design
Vice President’s Message
Message from Vice President.
Student Art Exhibit
Spring Music Performances
In early May, St. Xavier held the 2025 spring music performances. Performances by the St. X Choirs, Men in Black, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble made the month quite spectacular. Congratulations to all of the musicians!
Anthony E. Schad ’81
Vice President for Advancment
On May 5, students presented their art work they completed throughout the year. is was held right before our Michael Benson Festival and was a wonderful way to celebrate student artists!
MusicFest
On May 23, the students joined together for the St. Xavier tradition of MusicFest! e community gathered for good laughs, great food, and even better music!
Tony Schad ’81
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Career ConneXions Collaboration
is semester, we sat down with sta members Aleth Rhoades and Verna Donovan to discuss the Career ConneXions program.
Vice President’s Message
Rhoades serves as the Director of Career ConneXions, a student program designed to provide Bombers with career exploration experiences that help them gain con dence in their chosen college majors and professions. Donovan, meanwhile, is St. Xavier’s Speech and Language Pathologist, working with students both one-on-one and in the classroom.
Q: What brought you two together?
Message from Vice President.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Rhoades: Career ConneXions o ers workplace readiness workshops to help students build their interview skills and their resume. Verna recognized these workshops and the volunteers who run them as a resource to help her students build their day-to-day communication skills. She came to me three years ago and we've made great strides since then.
Q: How has your collaboration evolved over the years?
Rhoades: Like everything at St. X, Career ConneXions is designed to meet students where they are.
Donovan: ConneXions is a program that supports neurodiverse students by getting to know them on a personal level and developing plans that help them achieve their goals.
is time last year, we set out to nd a company willing to partner with us in supporting neurodivergent students. Our goal was to show businesses that all students—regardless of their di erences— can contribute meaningfully in the workplace.
Q: How has Career ConneXions adapted its approach to better support neurodiverse learners and students with learning di erences?
Donovan: Before engaging directly with students, it was essential for us to meet several times to discuss and structure experiences tailored to both the students’ needs and the expectations of the companies involved.
Rhoades: Verna’s daily interactions with her students are invaluable. Unlike a traditional class, ConneXions doesn’t o er grades or academic credit, which means I don’t have the opportunity for ongoing discussions with individual students. Her partnership was crucial in helping me understand how a student might feel when stepping into a job shadow in a new environment. It also highlighted the need for my student materials to evolve, ensuring they better support various learning styles and independent work.
Q: Can you share an example of the program’s impact this school year?
Donovan: Our partnership with P&G and INTERAlliance was pivotal. We were able to seamlessly integrate into their existing educational initiatives for high schoolers. e best outcome for one of our students is that he securied an eight-week summer internship at Fifth ird Bank in Technology - his ultimate goal Career ConneXions played a vital role in helping him achieve this.
Anthony E. Schad
’81
Vice President for Advancment
Rhoades: I completely agree. e generosity of P&G and INTERAlliance allowed us to openly discuss our student’s needs. ey met with us over several weeks to provide feedback on how he was coping and performing, which enabled us to adjust our approach and better prepare him for future experiences.
Q: What message would you share with alumni or parents considering getting involved with Career ConneXions as mentors, job shadow hosts, internship providers, or business partners?
Donovan: Career ConneXions is an incredible program that provides students with meaningful opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. ese partnerships bene t both students and businesses—especially when working with neurodivergent students—by fostering mutual learning and personal growth.
Rhoades: ank you, Verna. I truly appreciate everything we’ve accomplished together and look forward to continuing our work to support students next year! e Long Blue Line is the heart of Career ConneXions, fueling its purpose and impact. e generosity and support from P&G, INTERAlliance, and countless others within the Long Blue Line have been truly invaluable. I continue to seek their help in any way possible, knowing rsthand the incredible di erence even a few hours of mentorship can make in a student’s journey.
To o er your time and support of Bombers through Career ConneXions, simply email Aleth Rhoades at arhoades@stxavier.org.
Tony Schad ‘81
Vice President’s Message
What is St. Xavier all about? It’s more than a school—it’s a mission, a tradition, and a transformative journey nearly two centuries in the making. With a rich history, a thriving student body, and a legacy known as the Long Blue Line, St. Xavier continues to form young men who pursue excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, service, and above all, faith. From our vibrant classrooms to our championship elds, from the stage to the streets where our students serve others, every part of St. Xavier re ects our call to “ nd God in all things” and strive for the Magis—the more, the greater glory of God.
e general facts below may help you as your spread the good word about St. Xavier:
• St. Xavier High School is 194 years old and turns 200 years old in 2031– founded in 1831 with Xavier University. St. X is the oldest high school in greater Cincinnati and the fourth oldest Jesuit institution in the United States.
• Our alumni are known as the Long Blue line with more than 20,000 living alumni residing in 50 states and more than 22 foreign countries.
• is coming year we will have 394 freshmen joining us, bringing our total enrollment to 1,395 with students from more than 120 grade schools.
• 75% of our students are Catholic.
• 21% of our students are multicultural.
• e St. Xavier campus covers 110 acres
Is St. Xavier an “Academic School?” – YES!
• Virtually 100% of our graduates go on to attend a four-year, university, college, or military academy.
• In 2025 the average ACT score was 27.2
• 672 of our students are taking AP courses and took 1283 AP exams this past year.
- 79 students names AP Scholars
- 41 named AP Scholar with Honor
- 148 students named AP Scholar with Distinction
•o St. Xavier is consistently a leader in the National Merit Finalists and National Merit Commended Students competition.
• St. Xavier o ers more than 200 courses including 25 advanced placement courses in seven subject areas.
• St. Xavier students work with 121 full time faculty members with an average class size of 18 and a student to teacher ratio of 11:1.
Is St. Xavier High School a “Sports School?” – YES!
• St. Xavier has won the GCL All-Sports Trophy 42 times since the 1963-64 seasons and won it again for the 2024-25 season.
• Just this school year Bomber athletics claimed GCL Championships in seven sports and were second in four more!
• St. Xavier has won state championships in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Water Polo, Volleyball and have individual state champions in Tennis and Wrestling. In fact, St. Xavier has the second most state championships in the state and more than any other school in Southwest Ohio.
• St. Xavier Football can be heard each game on Fox Sports 1360 WSAI, ESPN 1530 WCKY and I-Hear Media worldwide and student run ESPX broadcasts more than 550 livestreams for most sporting events every year.
Is St. Xavier a “Fine Arts School?” – YES!
• Recognized as a premier Fine Arts School in Southwest Ohio with incredible productions by eatre Xavier each fall and spring.
• e Visual Art programs o er everything from drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and ceramics to 2D design and graphic design.
• A MakerSpace program on campus features cutting edge technology.
• Our Music Programs feature the St. X Marching Band to Strings, Jazz and a variety of vocal ensembles.
• St. Xavier is one of only a few high schools with a Fine Arts Hall of Fame in the Midwest.
Is St. Xavier a “Community Service School?” – YES!
• Virtually all our students collected food for the annual Canned Food drive endowed by the Class of 1991. Each year students collect more than 100,000 pounds of food that is donated to nearly 50 food banks making St. X one of the largest sources of food in the area.
• More than 170 rising seniors go on a week-long Service & Immersion trip doing home repair, agricultural work and learn about social justice issues.
• Students take part in after school and weekend community service programs such as the Big Buddies program, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, working with the homeless and those with disabilities and being good stewards of God’s creation.
Is St. Xavier only for the wealthy, or only for the poor? – No
• St. Xavier students come from every socioeconomic group in the area and re ect the greater Cincinnati community.
• 59% of St. Xavier students receive assistance funded by St. X benefactors.
• 147 students are on full tuition assistance.
• 91 students are young men who live in a circumstance that meets federal poverty levels.
• Tuition assistance allocated by St. Xavier amounts to more than $4.4 million dollars a year.
Is the Long Blue Line Real? – YES!
• 42% of St Xavier alumni support the school nancially each year.
• Members of the Long Blue Line, through the St. Xavier Career ConneXions Program, mentor and provide insight to students through discussion opportunities and internship possibilities as they determine the career paths that they want to pursue.
• Members of the Long Blue Line are in leadership roles in just about every business, political, educational, and philanthropic areas of our community locally, statewide and nationally. is is just a sample of all the things St. Xavier provides to our students, but illustrates the breadth and depth of what goes on each and every day. ank you to our students, faculty, sta , parents, and friends for embracing our mission. You are all making a di erence.
God bless!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
Tony Schad ’81
X-Travaganza celebrated its 52nd year this past March with the theme Speakeasy X! Chairs Gina and Ryan Kyte welcomed current parents, alumni and friends for a beautiful event where no detail was spared in bringing the Roaring 20’s to life on the St. Xavier High School campus. Attendees got into the spirit of the evening wearing their nest apper and mobster attire and had to rst make it past the bouncers and through the black and brick speakeasy door to join the party - as long as they knew the password for the evening…BOMBERS of course!
e evening began with Mass in the Chapel of the Holy Companions, led by Fr. Tom Manahan SJ. Upon its conclusion, guests were welcomed into the Ellis Lobby by the emcee for the evening, Mr. Mark Schulte ’95. e black and gold inspired décor greeted patrons as they entered, including Senior Kyle Goertemoeller playing jazz tunes on the lobby piano! Always staying on theme, the Drink Ra e served the signature cocktail, a Tom Collins, in an etched highball glass with the St. X logo. is ra e also served as an opportunity to win the choice of a beautiful piece of jewelry from Richter & Phillips Jewelers. Patrons snacked on hors d’oeuvres while also purchasing chances for the Bourbon Ra e, Reds Ra e and picking their winning number for a take home bottle from the Bourbon Wall. A new mingling area just inside the doors of the Ellis Gym allowed for an easy ow of the lobby where guests could talk with friends, grab a refreshment at the bar and browse and bid on hundreds of Silent Auction items, both in-person and virtually.
is year the Grab Bag Ra e allowed patrons to purchase the newest bottle to the St. X collection. Blue Line Bourbon is our very own collaboration with Cincinnati Distilling to create a signature bourbon that honors both the barrel-aged whiskey phenomenon and the legacy of the Long Blue Line. A winning combination indeed!
X-Travaganza 2025!
After the cocktail hour, guests were seated and again welcomed by Mark Schulte, led in prayer to bless the food (and funds!) of the evening by Fr. Manahan and toasted in thanks by President Tim Reilly ’76. Next, the Grand Ra e ticket drawing was held for prizes of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 to a hopeful crowd of ticket buyers! e serving of the gourmet meal provided by DelightMore was quickly followed by the start of the fast-paced Live Auction, hosted by X-Trav’s dear friend and auctioneer, Mr. Lance Walker. e bidding started with a bang for the traditional custom curated bourbon barrel and then continued for over 30 tempting items, including incredible trips and experiences – from sunny Palmetto Dunes to jazzy New Orleans, to dream maker experiences at Lambeau Field for the Packers vs. Bengals to taking a road trip with the FC Cincinnati team on their own plane, to making memories in Maui, hitting the slots in Vegas or sitting suite-style at this year’s St. X graduation ceremony – there was something for everyone in this fast-talking, high-biding auction!
is year, X-Tend a Hand honored the pioneers who laid the foundation for the Advancement Department. anks to their fundraising e orts, countless young men have been able to attend St. X. Visionaries like Dick Klus, Paul Zook ’57, and many others were recognized for their lasting impact. Attendees were invited to raise their paddles and support future Bombers, with gifts matched up to $50,000 by the Williams Foundation.
Upon the completion of the Live Auction and announcement of the winning ra e winners, attendees danced for the remainder of the evening to tunes spun by e ShamRocker in Berning Gym or ticket holders attended the Tom Meyer ’63 Cigar Bar in the St. X Amphitheater, featuring Blue Line Bourbon and cigars from Over e Rhine Premium Cigars.
As in the past, numerous volunteers from the St. Xavier community joined forces to ensure the event’s success. Among them were new and current parents, students and alumni and friends of e Long Blue Line. Over its history, the school has been grateful to all who support X-Travaganza, collectively raising millions of dollars to support the school’s educational and formational programs.
rough the generosity of the entire St. Xavier community, X-Travaganza again raised more than $1 million to bene t all St. Xavier students. e capacity crowd –many of whom continue to support the event years after their son graduates – contributed to make every activity of the evening a fun, community-building event. ank you to the X-Travaganza Sta and the St. Xavier Advancement Department for their yearround e orts to make the evening a success.
Tireless e orts of volunteers and committee chairs, along with donors, sponsors, auction bidders and event attendees collaborate to make the proceeds from X-Travaganza events, auctions and ra es bene t all the young men at St. Xavier.
SAVE THE DATE
FOR THE 53RD
X -T R A V A G A N Z A ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Vice President’s Message
Steve ’67 and Terry Schrantz Start Summer Work Program Endowment
Steve '67 and Terry Schrantz have long believed in the lasting impact of a St. Xavier education and the transformative power of work. eir dedication to St. Xavier High School has led them to establish a legacy through the creation of an endowment for the St. Xavier Student Summer Work Program.
Message from Vice President.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
"My rst job was working at St. Xavier after my freshman year," Steve recalled. "St. X had a tremendous in uence on me, and looking back, this is where I found an appreciation for just how much goes into making St. X work as a school. During that summer, and continuing during the following years of my high school experience, my personal beliefs, my work ethic, and my attitude towards life emerged. Terry and I want to provide all the young men who move desks, wash the windows, polish the oors, and put the school back together over those summer months the same opportunity I had for personal growth."
eir journey toward this gift began in the fall of 2005 when Steve and Terry established a Charitable Remainder Trust. A Charitable Remainder Trust allows retirees to make a signi cant charitable contribution while receiving annual cash distributions over the life of the trust. eir hope was that after 20 years, the fund would grow into a meaningful gift that could bene t the St. Xavier community for generations to come.
at vision became a reality. is endowment will help provide partial funding for salaries of the students who work at X in perpetuity. e Student Summer Work Program, much like the student work programs of past decades, has shaped the experiences of many St. Xavier alumni. Earlier this year, the St. Xavier Archives shared a picture from the mid-1980s of a student mopping the library oor. at image sparked a wave of alumni responses on social media. Current faculty member James Wolf '97 commented, "I worked as a custodian from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday during my four years as a student. I learned a lot from that experience." Fellow classmate Josh Kau man '97 added, "I seriously look back on my four years and believe the workstudy program was a greater contributor to my life path and fond memories of St. X than I ever realized at the time."
For countless alumni, St. Xavier has provided opportunities for both nancial support and valuable work experience. e Steve '67 and Terry Schrantz Family Summer Work Program Endowment ensures that future students will continue to bene t from these experiences while also helping to o set the school’s operational costs, keeping tuition more a ordable for families.
Terry Schrantz re ected on the signi cance of their contribution: "It feels good to give back in this way. St. Xavier has always been a large part of who we are. St. X is a part of our family, and the culture and in uence it provided my husband, our sons, and now our grandson Henry '28 is worth this level of support. e Catholic principle on the dignity of work is that all work has value and that workers should be treated with dignity and respect. Our hope is that the students who are working at X can start to build that self-respect and dignity in their own personal contributions toward their school community."
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
eir charitable remainder trust performed so well that not only were Steve and Terry able to launch this endowment for the Student Summer Work Program, but they also had the resources remaining to fully endow a need-based tuition assistance scholarship.
rough their generosity, Steve and Terry Schrantz have created a lasting impact at St. Xavier, ensuring that future generations of students will have the same opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute to the school that shaped their lives. St. Xavier High School is grateful for these endowment gifts as they provide a lasting, meaningful impact on the entire school community.
If you are interested in establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust or Charitable Gift Annuity, you can contact a member of the St. Xavier Advancement O ce.
Tony Schad ’81
Vice President’s Message
Paul and Rose Swanson, Rex and Nancy Riggs Establish Swimming and Diving Endowment in Memory of Kyle Swanson '12
Message from Vice President.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
In the spring of 2022, Kyle Swanson '12 passed away, leaving a legacy of love and kindness among his family, friends, St. Xavier classmates, and the greater Cincinnati community. In honor of his life and values, Kyle's parents, Paul & Rose Swanson, along with Kyle’s aunt and uncle, Nancy & Rex Riggs, established the Kyle Swanson Legacy Fund. is fund was created to sustain Kyle's legacy by supporting causes that re ected his lifelong principles and passions.
e family felt it was appropriate that the rst donation from the fund should support St. Xavier in Kyle's name through participation in St. Xavier's Loyola Club. Loyola Club donors make a direct impact on students' experiences at St. Xavier by making a four-year pledge of support ranging from $2,000 up to the equivalent of full tuition per year, providing crucial tuition assistance. In addition to support for the St. Xavier Loyola Club, the Kyle Swanson Legacy Fund also extends assistance to youth sports, cancer patient support initiatives and animal welfare organizations. All these causes were special to Kyle.
As the family reconnected with the St. Xavier community, they sought to make a lasting contribution, separate and distinct from the Legacy Fund; one that would bene t the entire school community in Kyle’s name. Given Kyle's deep involvement in St. Xavier’s Swimming and Diving program, it was a natural choice for where to direct their support. For this reason, the Swansons and Riggs established the Kyle Swanson ‘12 Memorial Swimming Endowment.
" e in uence St. Xavier had on Kyle was immeasurable. He was a dedicated friend who showed compassion, respect, and inclusiveness to all who knew him. Swimming for four years helped instill the strong work ethic he carried through his academic pursuits at Indiana University and later as he completed his master’s degree in accounting" said Kyle’s mother, Rose Swanson.
Kyle’s father, Paul Swanson, echoed the sentiment: "St. Xavier changed Kyle, it made him the man he became. He loved his experience and made lifelong friends. Kyle chose St. Xavier because he wanted to be challenged, and in that, he succeeded."
Anthony E. Schad
’81
Vice President for Advancment
"We had no connection to St. Xavier before Kyle decided to attend the school," Paul continued. "Out of all his loves and passions, St. Xavier stood above them all. Our gift is given in memory of Kyle and in honor of the incredible contributions of so many faculty members and coaches and to the students and swimmers at St. Xavier. Our deepest thanks go to Kyle’s individual coach, Tom Keefe '68 and to Jim Brower. We know that not all leaders in the swimming and diving program lead by their times and talent—some lead with their own servant leadership style. Mutual respect is a big part of what St. Xavier fosters, and our hope is that if one swimmer is motivated to do that extra lap, one more rep, or one more act of kindness because of this endowment, then it will keep Kyle’s legacy alive at the school he loved."
ere is a plaque in the Keating Natatorium now that celebrates the endowment and the generous support of Paul, Rose, Nancy, and Rex in memory of Kyle. On the plaque is a quote from Coach Keefe: “ ere is a misconception that St. Xavier is successful because we get the best swimmers, but this is not true. We get swimmers from all levels of ability, and over time they become OUR GUYS. Kyle Swanson was an excellent example of what it means to be a member of the Long Blue Lane. Full dedication and commitment to our team philosophy and culture. Kyle dedicated himself to be the best swimmer he could be…. He was one of OUR GUYS and a tremendous impact on the culture of St. Xavier Swimming.”
is quote exempli es not only the culture of St. Xavier Swimming and Diving but also the culture of the St. Xavier community. Kyle’s compassion, loyalty, sense of humor, and inclusiveness were a blessing and a gift to all who knew him. Our thanks to the Swanson and Riggs families for their support of the entire St. Xavier community and beyond.
Information on the Kyle Swanson Legacy Fund can be found at www.kyleswansonlegacyfund.com.
Tony Schad ‘81
The Year in Review
The Arts & Community Service
THE ARTS
Bands
e 2024–2025 school year was marked by exceptional achievement, growth, and community engagement for the St. Xavier High School Band Program. e program supported the student body, performed at a number of school-sponsored events, and proudly represented St. Xavier High School throughout the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond.
e year began with strong momentum as three members of the St. Xavier Jazz Band attended jazz camp at the prestigious University of Cincinnati’s CollegeConservatory of Music in June 2024. is opportunity allowed the students to gain invaluable performance experience by participating in clinics and performing with internationally recognized jazz artists.
In late July, the Marching Bombers launched into three weeks of band camp in preparation for another exciting season. eir performances energized fans and supported the varsity football team throughout the season. e band also hyped up the student body at two spirited pep rallies—one celebrating St. Xavier’s state championship teams and another to kick o the Annual Walk for X. In October, the Marching Band joined their fellow GCL marching bands for a band showcase at Elder High School.
e St. Xavier Drumline embraced their role as “Men for Others” through several impactful community performances. ey once again led the Buddy Walk at Sawyer Point, an event they value deeply and are honored to participate in each year. e Drumline also kicked o the Walk for ALS at Winton Woods Park, sharing their musical talents in support of this important cause. In
addition, they delivered a lively and wellreceived performance at an LPGA event hosted at e Acres Driving Range and Mini Golf in Evandale. Each of these performances was met with praise and appreciation from the community.
e Jazz Class Ensemble delivered outstanding performances at e President’s Dinner and the Mothers' Club Christmas Celebration. In December, the Jazz Class Ensemble joined the Jazz Band, Concert Band, Choir, and Strings program for two well-attended and wonderful Christmas concerts, showcasing the full breadth and talent of St. Xavier’s music department.
e second semester was met with high energy as the Basketball Pep Band cheered on the team at home GCL basketball games and pumped up the student body at the winter pep rally.
e Concert Band delivered a moving performance at the school’s annual MLK Assembly, performing a powerful tribute piece accompanied by a live narrator in honor of Dr. King.
e St. Xavier Jazz Band experienced a landmark year. One of the highlights was a performance in April at the historic Field House Museum in Chicago before hundreds of attendees. While in Chicago, students attended live performances by internationally acclaimed artists at the city’s premier jazz venues. It was a truly unforgettable cultural and educational experience. Another signature moment was the 25th Annual Michael Benson Jazz Festival, hosted by St. Xavier in May, which featured acclaimed vocalist and educator Jennifer Barnes, accompanied by her husband Steve Barnes, a world-class jazz drummer. eir collaboration with the Jazz Band resulted in one of the most memorable performances in program history. e St. Xavier Band Program remains deeply grateful to Bob and Rosalyn Benson for continuing to honor Michael’s legacy through their generous support of the jazz program.
To conclude the school year, the Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble presented a vibrant End-of-Year Concert, performing to a packed theater and earning standing ovations.
e St. Xavier Band Program continues to thrive through a combination of musical excellence, student leadership, and meaningful service. We are proud of all that our students accomplished this year and look forward to an even brighter future ahead.
Choir
e 2024-2025 was one of excitement for the Choir program. Leading into the year with a new director, everyone was curious to see how things would go. e Fall Concert, Love in All Forms, was an incredible and inspiring performance given by X-Men and Ensemble X. en, heading into the Christmas Season, Ensemble X hosted the annual Christmas
Dinner. Here, students performed in small groups and solos, in a variety of festive and sacred songs. To bookend 2024, the Band, Strings, and Choir Christmas Concert brought in two packed nights of performances, and not to mention, a ton of ra e ticket sales!
Going into 2025, the Choir program had a number of great events to look forward to. e Eyes of Freedom event was hosted to honor St. Xavier Veterans. Ensemble X sang a number of patriotic songs, bringing levity to such a special service. Shortly thereafter, our ensemble was invited to sing at the Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Peter in Chains. Being invited to sing at this Mass was a great honor for the St. Xavier community. To wrap it all up, the Spring Concert, Of One Heart, was an incredible feat. at night the Choirs honored an outstanding member of every class, and showed o how much the program grew in quality in just one short school year. Being the most attended solo choir concert in years past, the students left that concert feeling exuberant.
ere is much to look forward to in the next school year. From a collaboration concert with Ursuline, and heading to Disney for spring break, the choir will have a ton of work cut out for them. ank you for supporting us through it all!
Men in Black String Ensemble
Fourteen members of the Men in Black returned to school after an inspiring musical journey to Ireland and Scotland during the summer of 2024. One of their collaborations on this trip was with students at the South Dublin Arts Center, providing St X students with a day to meet and make music with teenage singer/songwriters from Ireland. Violinists George Baker ’25, Matthew Benton ’26, and Lam Truong ’27, perhaps inspired by their traveling friends, delved into traditional violin playing as a trio, soloing at the October 16 Fall Strings Concert, the President’s Dinner on October 24, the Open House on November 17, and the Mothers’
Club Christmas Boutique on December 6. Meanwhile, a signi cant number of guitar students performed Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” at the October 16 concert and Pachelbel’s “Canon” at the Christmas concerts.
After performing Christmas tunes like Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” with the string ensemble in December, four of the Men in Black—Matthew Benton ’26, Safet Hatic ’26, Lam Truong ’27, and Benjamin Watras ’28— went on to perform at the annual OMEA Solo and Ensemble adjudicated event in early February. Each of these string players earned the highest possible rating in their respective classes. at same day, freshman Benjamin Watras, cellist and varsity hockey player, performed the National Anthem to honor the seniors on his team at the St. X v Gahanna Lincoln senior night hockey game. (St. X won 5-1.)
Violinist Finnian Simpson ’26, cellist Benjamin Watras ’28, bassist Graham Risk ’27, and drummer omas Kornylak ’27 were joined by Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music guitarist David Putho to perform selections from Metallica’s 'Black Album' at the May 7 string concert. Earlier that evening, George Baker ’25 performed a movement from a Mozart violin concerto, and Benjamin Watras was joined by Iris LaValle—daughter of St. X teachers Steve LaValle and Anne Schoelwer—to perform the rst movement of Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Celli.” George Baker has been taking private violin lessons from the Peraza Music Workshop. e Men in Black were joined on stage by several other students from this studio for a performance of “Choreography” by Norman Dello Joio. Days later, Finnian, Benjamin, Graham, and omas repeated their Metallica performance with David Putho at St. Xavier’s MusicFest.
Theatre Xavier
You Can’t Take It With You
In the fall eatre Xavier performed the classic comedy You Can’t Take It With You. by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. With great acting and an intricate set this performance was one not to be missed! Grandpa Vanderhof and his family have been happily living their zany lives but when practical granddaughter, Alice, gets engaged to her company’s Vice-President, Tony Kirby, the clan must straighten up to meet the in-laws. is madcap, idealistic comedy reinforces the idea that one can only live a happy life when committed to being one’s true self.
Illuminations
In January audiences were treated to Illuminations, the winter light show competition. eatre Xavier students created dazzling light shows set to music of their choosing using a professional lighting rig. All lighting programming was completed by the students themselves.
She Loves Me
At the start of Spring, eatre Xavier produced the feel-good golden-age musical She Loves Me. is production was brought to life by 75 students both onstage and o . Having been on Broadway 3 times and been turned into a lm twice (most recently as You’ve Got Mail) this much-loved story found new life on the St. X stage. e plot centered around coworkers who dislike each other in-person but unknowingly fall in love with the true nature of each other, via letters. e importance of living honestly was a theme explored both in the story and by the students as Jesuit priests led the members of eatre Xavier in study sessions which examined the crucial role of honesty in living a spiritually ful lling life.
Visual Arts
St. Xavier Art Show
On Saturday, May 3, St. Xavier hosted the opening for its annual end-of-the-year art show. e opening saw visitors delighted and awed with the talent on display.
Each year, the focus of the rst oor is on graduating seniors, with extra emphasis on seniors moving on to study art or design at the college level. is year the seniors had a very strong showing, using up nearly every inch of available wall space on the rst oor! e second- oor gallery and wall spaces were covered with art from additional senior level classes like Graphic Design and Photography, as well as numerous projects from underclassmen. In all, more than 500 projects were on display.
St. Xavier also celebrated 10 senior level art students who had their work selected for display at a local high school art show in November. Congratulations to Caleb Rothring '24, Liam amann-Raines '24, Reily Mescher '24, Jack Dollries '24, Henry Isaac '24, Rowan King '24, Sean Koth '24, Aiden Miller '24, Jack Travis '24, and Myles Connock '24 for having their work selected!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Experiencing our “Men for Others” motto rsthand, over 1000 Bombers participated in year-long service activities. Students volunteered by working at nature preserves and doing housing rehab and by working with kids in afterschool programs and people with intellectual disabilities. As always, there is no service-hour requirement at St. Xavier High School.
Annual Food Drive
Keeping with the long tradition, St. X organized our 96th Annual Food Drive, endowed by the Class of 1991, this year! Going door to door with their homerooms, freshmen and sophomores collected 55,188 pounds of food that was donated to more than 50 local food banks. Nine homerooms joined this year’s St. X One Ton Club by bringing in over 2,000 pounds! Junior and senior homerooms also collected food and they delivered it directly to their assigned food bank partner. Once there, students met with food bank volunteers and sta to learn more about hunger in Cincinnati.
Service & Immersion Trips
During the summer of 2024, 189 rising seniors spent a week of their summer volunteering and exploring social justice issues. e trips created memorable experiences as students got to know their classmates by working together. Students helped with housing repair and agricultural work or worked at soup kitchens or kids’ summer camps. Leaving their phones behind that week gave room for students to be fully immersed and bond during this truly unique experience.
Pallbearer Ministry
Since 2021, the St. Xavier Pallbearer Ministry has sent students to serve at funerals and graveside services for our departed brothers and sisters who may not have any loved ones able to attend. is service is not only appreciated by the community, but it has also been a deeply meaningful experience for students.
The Year in Review
Athletics
Fall 2024
Cross Country
e St. Xavier Cross Country team had another exceptional season, adding a new chapter to its storied legacy. e Bombers claimed rst-place nishes at the Buckeye Running Sunset, Hot Summer Bash, and their own St. Xavier Invitational. eir regular-season success continued into the postseason, culminating in a 14th consecutive GCL Championship and the program’s 27th overall. At the OHSAA District Championship, the Bombers edged out Loveland by just seven points to claim the title. Although they placed 4th at Regionals behind Mason, Little Miami, and Centerville, several runners quali ed for the OHSAA State Meet at Fortress Obetz. Senior Alex Bruns, committed to Indiana University, delivered a phenomenal performance at state, nishing as the runner-up—just 14 seconds o the top spot. St. Xavier placed 2nd overall out of 20 teams, closing out a fantastic season with pride.
Football
Bomber Football enjoyed a strong 10–4 campaign in 2024. Despite a season-opening loss to Lakota West, the team rebounded with wins over Centerville, Cathedral, and Withrow. In GCL play, they posted a 2–1 record, with wins over Elder and La Salle— retaining the King of the Road trophy. Highlights included a Paul Lammermeier
GCL Sports Champs!
Memorial Cup win over St. Ignatius and a dominant 62–0 Senior Night victory over Life Christian Academy (VA). With a 7–3 record entering the playo s, the Bombers made a run to the Regional Final. ey defeated Milford (41–0), Winton Woods (22–10), and avenged their earlier loss to Lakota West (16–13), before falling to Moeller in a hard-fought playo matchup.
Golf
In Coach Alex Kepley’s nal season before retirement, the Bombers delivered a memorable campaign. ey opened with wins at Sycamore, Medina, and Findlay Invitationals, setting the tone for success. St. Xavier claimed its 10th straight GCL title and sixth consecutive OHSAA Sectional Championship. e season’s highlight was winning the District Championship for the rst time since 2020. At State, the team nished 3rd in Division I, led by senior Michael Stagnaro, who earned 1st Team All-State honors—the rst Bomber to do so since 2016. Teammates Owen Sedgwick, Eli Moore, Patrick Paquette, and George Baker also played crucial roles throughout the postseason.
Soccer
e Bomber Soccer team embraced a demanding schedule and nished with a strong 11–7–1 record. e season opened with shutout wins over Walnut Hills and Anderson and featured tough competition at the Jesuit Cup against St. Ignatius and St. John’s Jesuit. With a 4–2 GCL record, St. Xavier secured 2nd place in league play. A 4–0 Senior Night win over Lakota East highlighted their stretch run. In the playo s, they captured a District Championship before falling in a hard-fought Regional Semi nal to Moeller. Charlie Lynch, Adam Schwab, and Bennett Tekavec earned First
Team All-GCL honors. Davis House, Antony Santagata, and Luke Smith made the Second Team, while Evin Lodder was named a Senior Academic All-Star.
Water Polo
In his debut season, Head Coach Ben Dawson led the AquaBombers to a 27–9 record and a 3rd-place nish at the Ohio Water Polo Championships. e team had strong showings at elite tournaments, including the Sycamore Splash Down (3–1) and the undefeated Packer Classic. In the postseason, St. Xavier cruised past Worthington Kilbourne (21–2) and omas Worthington (12–5) before falling to St. Charles in the state semi nal. e team bounced back to defeat St. Francis de Sales 10–9 in the 3rd-place game. Seniors Sam Franke and omas Pitstick earned All-Ohio Second Team honors, while Liam Bien was named Honorable Mention.
Winter 2024–25
Basketball
St. Xavier Basketball opened the 2024–25 season with a red-hot 9–0 start, highlighted by wins over Kettering Fairmont, Mason, CHCA, and elite national opponents. At the Blue Jay Christmas Classic in New Orleans, they notched wins over Regis (NY) and Loyola Blake eld (MD) before falling in the nal to Rockhurst (MO). Senior Donovan Waleskowski made history by breaking the school record for career three-pointers. Under Coach Ryan Fleming, the Bombers went 5–1 in GCL play, winning the league title outright for the rst time since 2001. ey nished the season 19–6, advancing to the regional semi nals before falling to Lakota West. With strong underclassmen talent emerging, the future is bright for Bomber Basketball. e historic season for the
Bombers came with accolades as Head Coach Ryan Fleming was named GCL Coach of the Year. Alongside Coach Fleming, Brayden Reilly was named defensive player of the year for the GCL. First Team honors include Donovan Waleskowski and Jacob Wassler. 2nd team honors were Brendan Deeley and Brayden Reilly. Rounding out the honors –Coach Fleming was also named Coach of the Year for the Southwest district. Jacob Wassler gained rst team honors for Southwest District and Lastly, Donovan Waleskowski earned 2nd team all-district.
Bowling
e Bowling Bombers entered a rebuilding year with only one returning starter—senior Brady Johnson. Johnson nished with 17,337 pins and is now ranked 17th in program history. Junior Joseph Geers averaged over 200 pins and was on pace for a top 10 single season. e Bombers posted wins over Moeller three times and played close matches with Elder and La Salle. Tournament highlights included 3rd in the East/West Classic (West Division), 4th in the Kings Classic, 8th in the Wolves Classic, and 10th in the Cardinal Classic. ey placed 6th at sectionals and 26th at districts.
Ice Hockey
Following the graduation of key seniors, the Bombers endured a rebuilding season but showed ashes of promise. After a tough start at the Bishop Noll Invitational, they bounced back with a 10–1 win over Alter. Notable performances included an overtime win against Worthington Kilbourne and a dominant 8–3 win over Clay High School, led by senior Andrew Coburn’s hat trick. e team nished 12–24–3, reaching the second round of the OHSAA State Tournament.
Swim & Dive
Led by 25 seniors and 90 athletes overall, the Bombers navigated the Midwest’s toughest schedule with over 2,000 swims and dives in 10 weeks. ey won their 41st straight title at the Southwest Ohio Classic and extended their GCL championship streak to 65. Senior Jaeger Ellerman and junior
Chase Grisi led a roster rich with depth and talent. Academically, 17 seniors were named Academic All-Americans. At the State Championships, St. Xavier nished 2nd—just one point behind St. Charles. e title came down to the nal relay, where the Bombers were edged by 0.05 seconds. Some individual accolades achieved for the Aquabombers included 12 swimmers who were named on the All-GCL teams. Head Coach – Dave Albert was named GCL Coach of the year. District honors also came heavy with four First Team honors. ese student athletes included seniors Gino Eckert and Jaeger Ellerman, juniors Chase Grisi and Alex Nixon. Second team all-district included seniors Walker Bailey and Liam Biem, junior Andrew Clippard, sophomore Tucker Charles and freshman Owen Gee.
Wrestling
Under rst-year head coach Aaron Cashman, St. Xavier Wrestling elded its largest roster in years with 60 wrestlers. e team claimed a title at the Franklin Invitational and placed 11th at the Middletown Coaches Classic and the Wheeling Park Duals. At the Catholic Invitational Tournament, they nished 8th, with four wrestlers placing, including one champion. e season’s high point was a 53–20 Senior Night victory over Lakota West. Junior Rocco Pusateri placed 8th at state in the 190-pound class, while sophomore Kane Shawger captured the 138-pound state title— only the 4th individual state wrestling title in school history!
Spring 2025 Baseball
A rain- lled spring season brought its share of challenges, but the St. Xavier Baseball team responded with grit and determination. After a tough 2–7 start, the Bombers turned their season around with a dramatic 8–7 comeback victory over rival Moeller High School—a pivotal moment that sparked a shift in momentum. After that win, the team went on an impressive 11–3 run heading into the nal week of the regular season. One of the standout moments during this stretch came on Senior Night, when the Bombers defeated last year’s state champions, Mason High School, making the night even more memorable. Six players earned All-GCL honors for their outstanding performances. Jack Ryan was named GCL Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team recognition alongside teammates Matthew Hoerst and Jackson Sherrard. Logan Von Holle, William Sweeney, and Braden Bricking received Second Team honors, while Tommy Jewell was awarded the prestigious GCL Captain Award. e Bombers nished tied for 2nd in the GCL and nished with an overall record of 16-12. eir season came to an end with a 5-3 loss to Princeton in the OHSAA tournament.
Lacrosse
e St. Xavier Lacrosse team capped o an outstanding regular season with an impressive 13–2 record. e Bombers were especially dominant at home, going 10–1, and added a 3–1 record on the road that included marquee wins over nationally ranked Culver Academy and last year’s state champions, St. Xavier of Louisville. is season’s success was fueled by a high-powered o ense and a resilient defense. e team scored a total of 227 goals—averaging 15.5 goals per game— while allowing only 102 goals all season. Eight Bombers earned all-region honors, with Khalif Hocker named OHSCLA Regional Player of the Year and selected to the AllRegion First Team alongside Luke Sprong, Johnnie Guttman, Jimmy Brown, Sean Deeley, Brian O’Connor, Magnus Violet, and
Trent Yelton. All-Region Second Team honors were awarded to DJ Wojciechowski, Daniel Vollmer, and Rowdy Scheer. e Bombers rolled through the OHSAA State tournament winning the Division I State Championship with a win over Cleveland St. Ignatius in the nal game, 12-6. e St. Xavier Lacrosse team nished the season with a 19-2 record.
Rugby
e 2025 season was a true testament to the resilience and growth of the St. Xavier Rugby team. After starting the year 0–4, the Bombers battled through a challenging schedule and closed the season on a ve-game winning streak, nishing with an overall record of 8–7. Despite the early struggles, the team showed remarkable improvement as the season progressed, coming together at the right time. eir performance at the Great Midwest Rugby Tournament was a clear highlight, as the Bombers demonstrated their ability to compete with top programs— capped o by a thrilling victory over instate rival Moeller High School to win the tournament championship. e continued development of the St. Xavier Rugby program was on full display this season. e season ended with a 29-17 loss to St. Edwards in the State Tournament. With eight senior student-athletes graduating, the Bombers will return a strong core of players, setting the stage for another promising year ahead.
Track & Field
e Bomber Track & Field team had another impressive season, nishing 2nd overall in the GCL. e 4x400 meter relay team—sophomore Alex Walke, senior Shane Strayhorn, senior omas Vaughn, and junior Jack Nesbit—claimed rst place at the GCL meet. Our 4x800 meter relay team, made up of senior Owen Paul, junior Dom Ellis, senior Landen Fernandez, and junior Jack Nesbit, also secured a rst-place nish.
In individual events, senior Shane Strayhorn took 2nd in the 200-meter dash, while seniors Jack Nesbit and Landen Fernandez dominated the 800-meter run, nishing 1st and 2nd respectively, with Jack clocking in at 1:54.99. Dom Ellis and Owen Paul followed suit in the 1600-meter run, also nishing 1st and 2nd. Senior Alex Bruns turned in a standout performance in the 3200 meters, winning with a time of 9:33.25, and Dom Ellis added another strong nish by placing 2nd in the same event. In the eld events, junior James eobald took 3rd in the high jump with a leap of 6'3", while omas Vaughn earned 2nd in the long jump at 20'11.5". In the pole vault, juniors Beckett Stimson and James eobald went 1–2, with Beckett clearing an impressive 15 feet. Senior Jack Nesbit was named Co-Runner of the Year for the GCL. e Track & Field Bombers had a strong State Championship Meet with Dom Ellis nishing 3rd with a time of 9:00.60 and Alex Bruns nishing 9th with a time of 9:12.47 in the 3200 Meters. Sophomore James eobald nished 5th in Pole Vault with a 14-8 vault. Our 4 X 800 team nished 9th with a time of 9:12.47.
Volleyball
St. Xavier Volleyball team entered the 2025 season with high expectations—and delivered in a big way. e Bombers opened with a four-set win over St. Xavier (KY), followed by a sweep of La Salle to kick o Greater Catholic League (GCL) play. A successful road trip featured straight-set victories over Olentangy Berlin, Stow, and Olentangy Liberty. After a midseason setback at Elder, the Bombers responded with an extended win streak, highlighted by a dominant home sweep of Moeller and additional wins over Mount Vernon, McNicholas, and Roger Bacon. On April 12, St. Xavier captured the Centerville Elite Tournament title in emphatic fashion, earning straightset wins over Hilliard Darby, Moeller, and Elder—showcasing their strength against top-tier competition. e team carried that momentum into the nal stretch of the season with victories over Walnut Hills, Hilliard Davidson, and omas Worthington.
Key conference wins over Elder and Moeller helped secure a 5–1 record in GCL play and the 2025 Greater Catholic League Championship. e Bombers closed the regular season 19–2 overall, earning the No. 1 seed in the 2025 OHSAA State Tournament. Junior Joe Taggart ’26 was recognized for his outstanding performance throughout the season, earning both GCL Player of the Year and Region 4 Player of the Year honors. Senior Cam Evans was named to the GCL and Region First Team, while Luke Source earned Second Team recognition in both as well. e Volleyball Bombers lost in the statesemi nals in a tough ve set match to eventual State Champions Cleveland St. Ignatius. e two-year run for this senior class resulted in a record of 50-4, two-time GCL champions, and 2024 State Champions.
Tennis
e Bomber Tennis team continued its dominance in 2025, winning the GCL title for the 57th consecutive year. is year’s team, comprised of mostly underclassmen, showed tremendous maturity throughout the regular season. With many players expected to return, the future of the program looks especially bright. Among the season’s many highlights were victories over Moeller and Sycamore. e Bombers swept Moeller 5–0 on the road in a statement win that solidi ed their control over the GCL and rea rmed their reputation as the standard in conference play. Later in the season, they edged out Sycamore in a thrilling 3–2 battle—one of their most hard-fought wins of the year— against a program consistently ranked among the state’s elite. In tournament play, doubles duos made a major impact. Conor Lynch and Henry Brant nished as runner-up in 1st Doubles at the prestigious GCTCA Coaches Classic, while Gus Demis and Jonah Johnson claimed runner-up honors in 2nd Doubles at the same event, further demonstrating the team’s strength and consistency across the lineup. e Tennis Bombers nished the season with a 9-6 record and Sophomore Nihal Narisetty made it all the way to the Ohio Division I State Championship singles nal losing in a tough match 4-6, 4-6.
Graduation
On May 29, the Class of 2025 was welcomed into the Long Blue Line of St. Xavier alumni. e 326 young men ceremoniously followed the members of the Class of 1975 into the Cintas Center for the graduation ceremony upholding the tradition of the 50-year anniversary class leading the procession.
Principal Daniel J. Lynch welcomed the graduates, alumni, parents, and family members supporting the members of the class on this special occasion. He encouraged the graduates to continue to live the Jesuit motto of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, for the Greater Glory of God. President Timothy J. Reilly ’76 delivered the invocation. On behalf of the class, Grayson Beckham ’25, gave these nal words to his classmates “Continue making the ordinary, extraordinary! You are now Xavier men forever... As you hail the white and blue!” The commencement address was given by Nicholas J. Vehr ’77, who encouraged the students to build upon the Jesuit education principle of discernment and to use life’s most important lessons – to be self-aware, to care for others, and to understand the importance of God’s presence in their lives and in all things. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Academic Awards
The J. Harold Kotte, M.D. 1930 Biology Award
Brennan Gregory Connor
The Donald N. Berning, M.D. 1938 Chemistry Award
Zachary Trent Hertzman
The Peter A. Horan 2000
Award
Grayson Luke Beckham
Chinese
Hugh Thomas Packer
Computer
Graduation Awards
Senior Scholar Award
Kyle Joshua Goertemoeller
Rev. Joseph Brennan, S.J. Award Charles McDonald Moser
St. Francis Xavier Service Award
Antony Aurelio Santagata
Dr. Charles Farrell Memorial
Award Ernest Augustine Florkowski
Jesuit Schools Network Award Luke Matthew Smith
Principal’s Message
e phrase “Contemplatives in Action” may sound paradoxical at rst. How can one be both prayerfully re ective and fully immersed in the world’s activity? Yet for centuries, this ideal has been central to Jesuit spirituality. Coined by early companions of St. Ignatius, including Jerónimo Nadal, SJ, the expression captures the Jesuit call to unite a deep inner life with meaningful outward work. In 1572, Nadal wrote that the Society of Jesus is “contemplative as well as active,” emphasizing that prayer must nourish action and that our actions must be rooted in a vibrant spiritual center.
is school year, “Contemplatives in Action” became the theme guiding our community’s spiritual and educational formation. We asked ourselves: How can we be more present to one another, more intentional in our choices, and more prayerful in our response to a busy world? We turned to the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (Context, Experience, Re ection, Action, and Evaluation) as a framework to see the world, and particularly St. Xavier, as our monastery. Prayer did not stand apart from daily life; it accompanied it.
One particular area of focus was our relationship with technology. In a world increasingly shaped by screens, we emphasized presence and re ection by reinforcing phone-free classrooms and academic spaces. We introduced schoolwide e orts to help students fast from social media, including a three-day in-school phone-free challenge in the second quarter and a Lenten social media fast that asked students to re ect on their screen time and its impact on authentic relationships. ese moments served as practical invitations to become more contemplative in a digital age.
As always, the year was lled with achievements that re ect both excellence and formation. We celebrated 13 National Merit Semi nalists and eight seniors who earned perfect ACT scores. Our student-athletes and coaches once again secured the GCL All-Sports Trophy, while two students, junior Chase Grisi in swimming and sophomore Kane Shawger in wrestling, claimed individual state titles and Kane went on to win a national wrestling title for the Class of 2027. e Lacrosse team came away with the 2025 State Championship title! In the Arts, 21 students signed letters of intent to continue their creative pursuits at the collegiate level. eir accomplishments are prayers in action, the fruits of talent developed and generously shared.
We also walked through seasons of grief. We mourned the loss of two remarkable educators and companions: Fr. Terry Baum, SJ, our beloved alumni chaplain, and Dr. Jamie Laughlin, a dedicated teacher of Chemistry and AP Environmental Science. Both men lived lives of service, giving freely of their gifts to build up others. eir passing invited us to pause, re ect, and honor what it means to truly live for others.
As the class year came to an end, the work of education continues during the summer months. ere are hundreds of students participating in summer camps, enrichment classes and sports camps throughout the month of June and into July. During June there are also two Junior retreats and a Kairos retreat for rising seniors. More than 150 rising juniors and 34 faculty and sta members will take part in 15 summer service and immersion trips. I will join one of these groups in Louisville, Kentucky, serving alongside Catholic Charities. Meanwhile, 107 students and 13 faculty/sta members will also take part in ve additional cultural immersion trips to Germany, France, China, Peru, and Italy. ese journeys, rooted in re ection and community, extend our mission beyond the walls of our school.
e students will not be the only ones traveling this summer. A group of faculty and sta members will travel to South America to experience the Jesuit Reducciones (imagine the encampments as portrayed in the lm e Mission) as part of our adult faith pilgrimage led by Fr. Rick Millbourn, SJ. I will also lead a group of faculty and sta as we attend the triannual Jesuit Schools Network Colloquium. is time the conference will take place on the campus of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. I look forward to connecting with colleagues from across North America as we share best practices for living out our common mission in Jesuit education. Wherever you are this summer, don’t be surprised if you run into other members of the Long Blue Line!
In all of this, we strive to live as contemplatives in action. We seek the face of Christ in our companions, take time to re ect amidst the busyness, and engage the world not in spite of our faith, but because of it.
AMDG, Dan
Student Spotlight
Patrick Dunn ’25
Patrick Dunn ’25 leaves St. Xavier as the epitome of the Graduate at Graduation. During his four years he participated on the tennis team, X-ACT team, Career ConneXions, with Community Service (Mt. Washington Elementary and Episcopal Retirement Services), and in German Club. He was also a member of a mission trip to Cumberland Valley last summer. After St. Xavier, he will be attending the University of Dayton for Mechanical Engineering.
Please tell me any other family members that are part of the Long Blue Line.
In my immediate family my brother Jack ’27 is the only other member of the Long Blue Line. In my extended family there are a few other members: Jason Wittekind ’99, Michael Shurmer ’19, Brian Bolan’ 26, Will Wittekind ’26, Luke Wittekind ’28, and Peter Wittekind ’29.
Where did you go to grade school? Why did you choose to attend St. Xavier?
I went to Guardian Angels in Mount Washington from K-8. I chose St. X because I heard it was challenging, and I was looking to push myself harder than I had ever been pushed. I was also looking forward to meeting new friends from all over the city. Fortunately, my friend group has grown more than I ever expected, which has been a lot of fun, even if it did create a lot of long drives to the West side and Northern suburbs.
What advice would you give to the incoming Class of 2029?
I would rst say be open to everything, even if it is not in your comfort zone. I was told this countless times and it has helped me have an amazing time at X and build many awesome relationships. ere are so many opportunities to nd activities that match your interests and through these activities you nd lifelong friends and mentors who will help build you into a great person. Another piece of advice I have is to work hard. St. X is a challenging place and will push you harder than you have been pushed before, but it will also prepare you for whatever lies ahead. Over my four years, I have been pushed beyond what I thought I was capable of and now I am not afraid to take on the challenge of college. It’s not always been easy, but it is so rewarding in the end that the entire journey was worth it.
What is your favorite memory or experience at St. Xavier?
I have a lot of great memories, but my favorite is my mission trip to Cumberland Valley, Kentucky the summer after my junior year. On the mission trip, there were about 20 guys from my class, and we were led by three awesome sta members. At Cumberland Valley, we worked with the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), whose mission was to assist those in the community who needed home repairs but could not a ord them. During the day, we split into three groups and traveled around the mountains helping di erent families. My group spent our rst two days building a concrete wheelchair ramp and replacing the oor of a house for an older couple. ey needed this ramp so they could both leave the house. It was very hard work, but it was cool because I had never done either of the projects, and I was able to learn from experienced volunteers how to do it correctly. During our last two days, we went to another family’s house where we built an entire porch. is was also a lot of fun because we were working together to carry huge wooden beams and put them together from scratch. After the long days of work, we had free time together, where we spent making res, playing Spikeball, cards, and exploring the area. e best part of the experience was getting to talk to the families and see their reactions when we nished the projects. ey were so kind and had great stories. ey were also so happy and thankful for our work and told us how life changing it was going to be for them. is made me proud of what I had done with my new friends and appreciate everything I have at home.
What is the St. Xavier Advantage?
e St. Xavier Advantage is the work ethic you learn and the bonds you create with those around you. As I said earlier, at St. Xavier we are pushed to be the best version of ourselves in and out of the classroom. It won’t always be the most fun and sometimes you may become overwhelmed. Just remember though, that every year you will get better at managing your time and while your classes will get harder, you’re getting smarter and smarter so that it doesn’t feel like you’re getting more schoolwork than before. e bonds you will build here are also amazing and will last you a lifetime. You’ll make friends who have the same interests as you and these guys will become your brothers. ey will be there for you whenever you need it most and they will push you to be the best version of yourself.
excerpts from the ARCHIVES
Nicholas Kemper ’06, Archivist
Among the pages of the 1849 St. Xavier Catalogue is a small announcement that is easy to miss. A note at the bottom of the page regarding the annual July graduation exercises reads: “On account of the prevalence of the Cholera, at the present time, the greater part of these Exercises, and the conferring of Degrees have been postponed till the opening of the next session.”
Commencement was thus suspended, students were sent home early, and for the first time in school history— though not the last—a pandemic disrupted the end of an academic year.
Cholera was a persistent torment for much of the world throughout the 19th century, and Cincinnati was no exception. After being ravaged by an outbreak in 1832 that killed 2% of the city’s 30,000 inhabitants, the dreaded “blue death” returned to the Queen City seventeen years later with a brutal vengeance: this time, 5% of the city’s now 115,000 residents perished. Little was known about the illness at the time as the germ theory of disease had yet to be fully developed, and it would still be a few years before British physician Dr. John Snow identified contaminated water as the primary carrier of the deadly Vibrio cholerae bacterium.
On June 27, 1849, shortly before being dismissed for the school year, a group of St. Xavier students led by Peter “Cheri” Nogues adopted the following proclamation: “RESOLVED—That we offer to the Blessed Virgin a solemn vow that if all the students of this institution be preserved from death by the cholera during the season of its prevalence in this city, we will cause to be made two golden crowns, one for the Blessed Virgin and one for the infant Jesus, to be placed on their respective images in the chapel of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin.”
There was but one holdout among the student body, a boarder. Legend has it he refused to sign the resolution, boldly declaring he was “not afraid to chance the risk.” According to one source, he later succumbed to cholera while traveling home and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi.
Miraculously, all the signatories survived the summer, and the students kept their word. On February 2, 1850, they placed two golden crowns on a statue of Mary and Jesus during a solemn ceremony in the school chapel. The inscription on the larger crown read: “Presented to the Blessed Virgin Mary by the students of St. Xavier College in gratitude for her special protection during the cholera of 1849.”
Cincinnati continued to deal with the “blue death” in subsequent years, but later outbreaks paled in comparison to the scourge of 1849. The crowns themselves were eventually lost before being rediscovered in 1904. They were then misplaced again until 1938 when Fr. Ladislaus Majerowski, S.J. found the larger crown in the attic of the school, while the smaller crown was said to have been found in a chapel at Xavier University. Together, both were displayed at the high school during feasts of the Blessed Mother and Child.
The cholera crowns were last seen in 1958. A letter held in the Xavier University Archives indicates the crowns may have been accidentally discarded, but we may never know for sure. Perhaps one day they will be found yet again. Hope springs eternal.
Mary's cholera crown, as shown in the 1940 yearbook.
News from the Long Blue Line Alumni X-Cerpts
70’s 10’s cont’d 10’s
Charles “Chuck” Scheper ’70 was recognized and awarded as a 2025 Great Living Cincinnatian.
Harry Blanton ’83 succeeds Dave Burleigh ’86 as CEO of BHMK Law.
J.B. Kropp ’92 takes over for Pete Blackshaw as CEO of Centrifuse.
Dr. Douglas Moellering ’86 was quoted in a New York Times article, “How Healthy is Asparagus?” e associate professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham stated, “Nourishing gut bacteria with prebiotic ber may have bene ts beyond your digestive system.”
BIRTHS
Brian Redmond ’10 and his wife, Kaitlyn, welcomed their rst child, their son Gabriel Mark, into the world on November 3, 2024.
JJ Baker ’11 was awarded second prize for a pair of his mixed-media collages at the 52nd Hamilton Current juried art exhibition Saturday, April 26, at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.
Luke Kasson ’12 earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from e Ohio State University in 2016. He spent ve years as an ICU nurse at the James Cancer Hospital before attending medical school at Rush University in Chicago, graduating in May. He will continue his training as an Orthopedic Surgery Resident at Ohio State.
Twins Andrew and Benjamin Jones from the Class of 2017 are among members of the KU Medical School class of 2025 and soon will become the third generation of physicians in their family.
Alexander (Alec) Schumacher ’17 recently was 1 of 20 young professionals chosen to participate in an amateur boxing match at e House of Blues in Chicago to raise money for the Reaumond Foundation. is Foundation raises money to help those with Pancreatic Cancer. Alec raised $15,000 for the foundation. None of the boxers had previous experience. Each boxer spent three months with a coach training for the event.
IN MEMORIAM
1953JosephAHERN
1965DavidANNEKEN
2013PeterARNOLD
1969DouglasBERLIER
1958DennisCAVANAUGH
1997JamesCONNER
1973R. JosephDOUD
1975 Mark ECKHOFF
1952JamesEIGEL
1964Geo reyGATES
1951RobertGERWIN
1955PaulHISCHEMILLER
1959DavidHODAPP
1960 omasHOOBLER
1962AlbertHOWE
2013OwenHUGHES
1970 omasHUSTER
1962RichardJACKSON
1949JamesJOERING
1950JosephKAMMER
1963W. RussellKING
1953LawrenceLESER
1968 eodoreLEUGERS
1968GregoryMALE
1946HerbertMENKHAUS
1962RichardNIEHAUS
1968AnthonyNUMRICH
1974KevinO'CONNELL
1959DanielO'DONNELL
1954 Mark PLAGEMAN
1953RonaldREGENHOLD
1960CharlesRUPRECHT
1953JamesSANTANGELO
1970MichaelSCHMIDT
1955WilliamSCHMIDTER
1956EdwardSCHREIBER
1966JohnSTEEL
1964JamesSTOEGER
1986PatrickTHEIRING
1953JohnTHOLE
1960HowardTHOMAS
1949WalterTIMPERMAN
1964WilliamVETTEL
1953 omasVOLLE
1956RobertWEBER
1956KenleyWILGER
1984GeraldWITTROCK
1982DouglasWOODHOUSE
1964GeorgeZUEFLE
REDMOND
X-Peditions
On the globe, the Long Blue Line is the equator. In St. X parlance, the Long Blue Line of alumni and student body appears all over the globe. Bomber blue turns up all over the map and we want the evidence. Send us your pictures wearing St. Xavier High School gear or hoisting a copy of a St. Xavier magazine at an exotic locale or local landmark. Maybe a picture of Bombers at the Pyramids of Egypt or posing at the Pit. Either way, let us know where you’ve been displaying your X pride. Send your high-resolution digital images to Becky Schulte at bschulte@stxavier.org, fill out the online form at www.stxavier.org/xpedition, mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine), 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224, or scan the QR code on page 28.
1. Members of the Class of 1971 visited Turks and Caicos for a great vacation! From L to R: Tom McLean, Greg Tillar and Bob Dalton (all tri-captains of the St. Xavier 1971 Wrestling Team.)
2. Mel Rodriguez ’85, Senior Vice President of Bank of America, was chosen to be the emcee of the Business Courier C-Suite Awards. Rodriguez announced life-long friends and St. X alumni Je Berding ’85 who won the C-Suite Award as CEO of FC Cincinnati and Pat Dearing ’86 who won as Chief Human Resource O cer. All three attended St. Catherine grade school in Westwood and have been friends for 50 years! Congratulations! 3. Brian Reinhart, Director of Student Activities, and Dan Zepf ’92, Social Studies Faculty and Football Coach, at the College Football Playo National Championship Game. 4. ree generations of Bombers attend the 2025 St. Xavier Admitted Students Night! L to R: Ralph Nardini ’77 (Grandpa), Nick Nardini ’29 (Grandson), and Nick Nardini ’01 (Son). Congratulations Nick and welcome to the Long Blue Line! 5. Steve Wolnitzek ’66, rounding Cape Horn on the Viking Jupiter. 6. Class of 1999 alumn, Rob Meckstroth, Derek Smith, Jon Dicks, Steve Raterman, and Andy Mueller catch up over lunch! 7. Bryan Jacob ’15 and
Vivek Ramaswamy ’03 - the Long Blue Line always nds a way to one another!
1. Sean Cli ord and Grant House, members of the Class of 2017, together at the rst-ever players-only meeting for college athletes, hosted by athletes.org. Over 50 athletes came together to amplify their collective voice, align on shared goals, and take steps toward meaningful changes in college sports!
2. Levi Spetz ’99, Je Zorn ’97, and Luis Gonzalez ’74 at the 2025 Phoenix Open. 3. On February 4, the Phoenix Alumni Chapter networking event took place at Viad Corporation and was hosted by Steve Moster ’88. 4. Congratulations to Miles P. Grier ’95 on being awarded the 2024 Early American Literature Book Prize for Inkface: Othello and White Authority in the Era of Atlantic Slavery (UVA Press, 2023)! 5. Mark Gartner ’74 and his wife, Ann (St. Ursula ’77), visited Glacier National Park!
6. Jacob Servaites ’20 and younger brother Luke Servaites ’28, standing in front of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Moab, Utah in July 2024. 7. Father, Matt Keith ’93 and son, Alec Keith ’20 enjoy a snow day in Cincinnati! 8.Mike Kinsella ’78 visits Deception Island, Antarctica. 9. Rod Kucro ’73 and Tom Blinkhorn ’52 play tennis regularly in Northern Virginia. 10. Tom Fessel ’75, opened his latest restaurant, F&N Goode Chick'n Tenders, connected with J. T. Maley’s sports bar, just in time for his classmates to meet there and preview the golf simulator bays!
1. J. Bartley Cosgrove ’92 celebrates his wife, Megan E. Shanahan, who was sworn in as a member of the 165th justice of the Ohio Supreme Court on March 13, 2025. e Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick Fischer ’76, administered the oath of o ce. Pictured L to R: Megan Shanahan, Dolan and Claire Cosgrove, J. Bartley Cosgrove ’92, and Justice Patrick Fischer ’76.
2. 1982 Social Club Annual Retreat in Norris Lake, TN! Front row L to R: Mark Jacob, Peter Balash, Matt Vehr, Mike Kelly, Brad Blust, Pat Monahan, Drue Carney, Brendan Burns. Back r ow L to R: Bob Dehnor (Roger Bacon), Joe Dusa, Paul Schmerge, Dr. Kevin Reilly, Mark Armstrong (Western Hills), Brian Eve (Roger Bacon), Greg Dittrich, Tim Michel, Doug Sammons, Jim Carroll (Roger Bacon), Jonathan Bordeaux, Greg Niklas. Not pictured: Michael Doll, Dave Kircher 3. Brothers Mark ’80, Joe ’74, and John ’76 Wenker spent a few weeks in March walking the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain. e photo, taken March 25, is in front of the Cathedral where, it is believed, the apostle St. James is buried. It marks the "o cial" end of the pilgrimage 4. Gregory Gross ’82, PhD, at the reliquary of St. Francis Xavier, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa, India! 5. Paul Zook met with members of the St. X class of ’75 lunch group at e Filson in April. 6. On April 27the Denver Alumni Chapter held its St. Xavier Day at Coors Field as the Reds defeated the Rockies eight to one! 7. Matt McDermott ’96 with Scott Schloss ’95 and James “Jim” Grogan ’72 at the ProMat Trade Show. 8. Stephen Schueler ’84 joins Nordic Storm, Denmark’s new premier American Football as the co-owner and board member. Currently serving as the Chief Executive O cer of Enerjen Capital, a leading renewable clean energy company specializing in the maritime sector, Schueler has previously held executive roles as Chief Commercial O cer at A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corporation, and spent over two decades at Procter & Gamble leading global retail operations. 9. Members of the founding lacrosse team, Class of 1995, join together for the 2025 Lacrosse Reunion. 10. Nolan Schuermann ’21 is now a senior in college at Holy Cross and recently won the Patriot League Golf Championship. Congratulations!
1. On May 6, Chris Nawalaniec ’84 and Julie Nawalaniec had lunch at St. X with Marine Biology program students Adan Garcia ’26 and Charlie Hull ’26, as well as moderators Heather Nardini and Jennifer Donahue. e Nawalaniec’s have established the Deep Blue Marine Biology Endowment at St. X to help o set the school’s annual operating expenses in the Marine Biology area. Chris and Julie’s son, John ’16, was heavily involved in St. X’s Marine Biology program and today is an ocean engineer for Weeks Marine, Inc. ank you Chris and Julie! 2. Alumnus Je Berding ’85, CEO of FC Cincinnati, joined a panel for the Courier’s Commercial Developers Power Breakfast with other Cincinnati leaders, Bill Baker, managing partner of MSA Design/MSA Sport; Denis Driehaus, Hamilton County commissioner; and Jim Moehring, owner of Holy Grail Tavern and Grille. 3. After a 30-year career in teaching, Mike Odioso ’81 retired from St. Xavier in 2024. In November, Mike was elected to the 136th General Assembly of the Ohio House. On January 6, 2025, Mike was sworn in to represent the 30th House District (representing parts of western Hamilton County.) He is pictured with Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer ’76. Mike has been appointed Vice Chair of the Education Committee in the Ohio House. 4. On a work trip to Austin TX, Mike McCabe ’78 met up with Neil Dacey ’78. ey were roommates at Miami University and reunited after 40 years! 5. Two generations of St. X friends spent a week gol ng in Ireland in September. e photo is taken at the famed Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland.
Pictured L to R: Dick Budde, Jr ’76, Frank Budde ’80, Mark Budde ’84, Jonathan Budde ’02, Michael Budde ’07 and Matthew Budde ’17. 6. Friends from the class of 2011 along with two future Bombers met in Charleston, S.C. Pictured L to R: Matt Kasson (son Bode), Jack Woodall, Tommy Vance (son Connor) and Danny McCuen. 7. A group from the Bay Area Wine Country Social hosted an event in Kenwood, CA by Dave ’80 and Caren Edwards on May 17. 8. Andrew Collins ’21 was recently commissioned into the US Army. Long time friend and Specialist Nolan Head ’21 ew into town to give Andrew his rst salute, which is a great part of the Commissioning Service where the newly commissioned o cer receives his or her rst salute from a signi cant soldier in their life. 9. Christoph Wenzke ’25 hits the waves in his cap and gown before graduation! 10. St. Xavier Alums - Connor Buczek '11 & Gri n Buczek '16 led Cornell University to the NCAA Lacrosse National Championship! Connor is the head coach at Cornell and Gri n is the Director of Operations for the lacrosse program.
1. Class of 1971 gathering at BJ’s Restaurant at Rookwood. 2. Dr. John Keefe ’67, former president of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Alumni Association, leads his 50th year medical school reunion class into the Pavilion Room at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Hotel on April 11, 2025. Dr. Keefe was joined by his St. Xavier 1967 classmates Dr. Robert Barnhorn and Dr. Richard Klopp on this momentous occasion. 3. e Bill Family Reunion with Barb Hausladen, former St. X math teacher, diving coach and mother of Derek Hausladen ’90, Dustin Hausladen ’94, David Hausladen ’98, and Doug Hausladen ’00, Pierre Tardivon ’29, and Bob Heintz ’69!
4. Class of 2025 graduates with their Class of 1991 fathers before graduation! Pictured L to R: George and Brendan Beluan, Darrell and Simeon Betts, Mike and Michael Stagnaro, Andy and Nate Hodapp, and Dave and Dominic Fermann. 5. NJ Haussler ’23 and Oliver Weidner ’24 who play rugby for Ohio State and recently played UK at RDI stadium. 6. Members of the Class of 1977 attended four days of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 30 - May 4 where they celebrated good food, music and friends. Pictured L to R: Mark Gonzalez, Mel Kelley, Steve Chandler and Jim Sweeney. 7. St. X Class of 1975 lunch group met at Jim and Jacks in January.
X-Peditions
What's up? You can let us know in a variety of ways–send a photo for our X-Peditions feature or tell fellow Bombers about your wedding, a recent move, your latest promotion, a family addition, your retirement or other news via the Alumni X-cerpts pages. Just ll out and send in the form below. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon…
HOW TO SUBMIT PHOTOS
• Scan the QR code
• Email your submission to Becky Schulte at bschulte@stxavier.org
• Fill out the online form at www.stxavier.org/xpeditions
• Mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine) 600 W. North Bend Road Cincinnati, OH 45224
August
3: Young Alumni Golf OutingGlenview Golf Course
9: Cross Country Alumni Event
13: Class of 1956 Lunch at Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY at 11:30am
25: Alumni Golf Outing - Four Bridges Country Club
September
12: Class of 1990, 1995, & 2015 Reunions
18: Class of 1964 Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in Covington, KY
19: Walk for X
26: Class of 1975, 2000, & 2005 Reunions
October
3: Class of 1969 Golf Outing at Clovernook CC
10: Class of 1980, 1985, & 2010 Reunions
10: Class of 1966 Football Alumni Gathering
23: X-Travaganza Ladies’ Bunco
December
10: Class of 1962 Christmas Luncheon at Cincinnati Country Club
11: Class of 1964 Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in Covington, KY
12: Class of 1968 Christmas Lunch at Moerlein Lager House
50 YEARS OF RUGBY
Calling all St. X and North Bend Rugby alums!
The St. Xavier Rugby program is planning the 50th Reunion, which will take place on April 18, 2026. This is a fantastic milestone, but we need your help to identify alumni who played for North Bend Rugby before it became an official sport here at St. Xavier.
In Memoriam
The past few months the St. Xavier Community was saddened to learn about the passing of four members of the St. Xavier community, Mary Lou Carson dedicated more than three decades to St. Xavier as the Bookstore Manager and Purchasing Director. Sylvia Betz dedicated her life from 1969 to 2020 to the mission and values of St. X as assistant to six St. X presidents and played a pivotal role in the development of the Advancement Of ce. In 2009, she was honored with the Magis Award for her unwavering commitment to the school’s mission. Tom Choquette, former Religion teacher and husband of former Religion teacher Joyce gave his talents to the men of St. Xavier. Sr. Georgia Messingschlager, C.P.D., long time History and Latin teacher worked at St. Xavier from 1977 to 2014 and impacted so many lives.
Thank you!
Thank you to our four retiring faculty and staff members for their service. The results of your career lives in the Long Blue Line and will long be remembered. You have made a difference. With gratitude and admiration, we celebrate your retirement, hoping you will visit often, knowing you are always welcome back to St. Xavier, your home.
How you can help:
1.Spread the Word: To the right is a QR code with a form link. Please forward this to anyone you are still in contact with who played Rugby anytime in the last 49 years and ask them to fill out the contact form. We especially need names of players prior to 2015.
2.Share Names: If you have any team lists or know the names of guys who played Rugby but don't have their contact info, send their names to Mike Mullally (mmullally@stxavier.org) or Libby Hodapp (ehodapp@stxavier.org).
Dave Eby Campus Ministry
Wayne Miller Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Amy Reeb World Languages Faculty
Ron Weisbrod Social Studies Faculty
